•2.1 What is research? The good researcher is not ‘one who knows the right answers’ but ‘one who is struggling to find out what the right questions might be’. Phillips and Pugh (2005: 48) CHAPTER 2 Research Aims: To introduce research in the context of computing projects. Learning objectives: When you have completed this chapter, you should be able to: n Discuss what research means. n Understand the research process. n Classify research and understand the different research methods available. n Understand the issues surrounding interviews, questionnaires and observational studies. n This chapter is highly relevant for research degrees. n This chapter is highly relevant for research-based taught degree projects and provides useful reading for other taught degree projects. 15
16 Chapter 2 n Research 2.1.1 A definition A useful starting point from which to discuss research is to examine a seminal definition of the term. Research is defined by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HECFE) as ‘original investigation undertaken in order to gain knowledge and understanding’ (RAE, 2008). Three key terms in this definition have been italicised for emphasis; original, gain and knowledge and understanding. These terms are essential to the definition of research and will be discussed in turn. 2.1.2 Originality There is no point in repeating the work of others and discovering or producing what is already known. Quite simply, originality is doing something that has not been done before. While this remains a relatively simplistic definition, it is important to discuss how originality relates to projects. What can you do that is original? What type of things can you produce that are original? You can be original in two ways. First, you can be original in the way you do things – for example, doing something someone has done before but using a different technique or approach. Second, you can be original by producing or developing something that has not been produced…